Car-brake strut.



F. D. WARD. CAR BRAKE STRUT.

APPLICATION.FILED AUG.24, 1916- Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

lA/VE/VTOR FRI-INK 0. WEIRD BY M W V ATTORNEYS FRANK D. Wear, 0]? nnw'xonk, nfY.

Application filed August 24, 1916. Serial-No. 116,638;

To all whom it may, concern:

Be it known thatl, FRANK D. IVARD, a

citizen of the United States of America,

and residingin the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Car-Brake Strut, of which the following is a. specification. x

The present invention relates to struts and particularly to a strut for car brakes, the

object of my invention being to provide a strut of light yet rigid construction adapted to be connected between the brake levers and having means whereby the distance between the attaching centers onthe strut may be readily varied and also providing improved bearings between the parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a strut in which my lnventionis embodied in illustrative form; I

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof, showing one of the brake levers in cross section 1' Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through the strut and lever ends on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and 7 of the lever ends and bearing.

The common practice heretofore in the construction of struts of the present type, has been to use a strut having two end members united by a turn buckle arrangement for varying the overall length of the strut and thus the distance between the centers, one each at the opposite ends of the strut.

This construction is deficient not only by" reason of the difliculty of operating the turn buckle after it has become rusty or clogged with ice, dirt, etc., and the consequent loss of time in the adjustment, but also by reason of the fact that the eye in each end section, through which the bearing bolt is passed, becomes quickly worn with the result that rattling and chatter ensue, which render the attachment noisy as well as giving a sense of insecurity. A certain amount of lost motion also results and this combined with the fact that the turn-buckle occasionally jars loose and causes an undesired lengthening of the distance between centers, able from the standpoint of efficiency and workmanlike construction.

The present strut is free from theobjections noted, whilepossessing several other advantages thereover. As here shown it comprises a pair of bars 10 and 11 of equal oARaaRAKE s'rnu'r.

Specification of Letters Patent.

F i tis an enlarged section through one renders the strut highly objectionthe strut.

Patented 0015.2, 1917..

length, spaced apart i n-the mid-portion of their length by spacing thimbles 12 and 18 through which freely pass the securing -means, such as rivets 14.01" bolts'15,*by

which the bars are rigidly united together. At one end of the strut, the bars 10 and 11 are pierced by a series of registering eyes 16 spaced longitudinal-1y apart a predetermined distance, whlch may. for example be two inches, the major spacing-unit. At the other end of the strut, the bars are similarly plerced by a second series of eyes 17, spaced .a different distance apartsay one and: a

halfinches, the minor spacing unit, Closely fitting these eyes, so as to prevent, rattling.

are the pivot pins or bolts 18; and 19by which the levers 20 and 21 respectively, of

the brake system are connected to. the strut.

The spacing of the eyesat each endof the strut is predetermined by thedesired distance between centers for the attachment to between the t erminal'eyes 16 "and 17 atopposite ends, of'the strut'may be twenty-seven.

inches. Assuming that the eyes are spaced as stated, thedistance; between the eyezlofat the inner end of its series and say the second eye 17 from the inner end of its series, will be sixteen and one-half inches, and that spacings from seventeen inches to twentythe brake levers. For example, the-distance the other end with five eyes asdescribed, it

is possible to secure nineteen different variations of spacing between centers for the connection to the brake levers. i

To minimize wear on the strut eyes and prevent rattling by the pivot pins, not only are the latter made to fit the eyes closely but they are also provided with snug steel bushings 22-23 of the same length as the thim bles 12, 13, and serving, like the latter, to space apart the bars 10 and 11 which form Arranged thus between the ends of the bars and rigidly spacing them apart, they serve to prevent vibration at these points. Furthermore any wear that occurs between the brake levers and the strut is taken by these bushings and they may be I readily renewed by simply withdrawing the pivot bolts and replacing the worn bushings when need arises.

Further to reduce wear on majorparts and to keep the assembled parts snug, I provide the levereyes with cooperating bush-- ings 24, 25, which fit over the strut bushings 22, 23. These several bushings being of hard steel, the wear is slight and the parts remain snug and tight with no necessity 'for renewal for long periods of time.

The construction described is merely illustrative of my invention which is not limited to the two bar construction or vari ous other features of detail particularly described in pointing out my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a pair of supports, of an inextensible connecting strut having at one end a series of eyes spaced by a unit of distance and at the other end a series of eyes spaced by a difi'erent unit of distance, and pins connecting the opposite ends of the strut to said supports. 7

2. A strut comprising a pair of bars rigidly united in spaced relation at their mid-portion, and having a longitudinal series of registering transverse eyes at one end of said bars and at the other end of said bars a longitudinal series of registera ing transverse eyes differently spaced from those of the first series.

3. A strut comprising a pair of bars, having at their opposite ends longitudinal series of eyes, spacing thimbles arranged between said bars at theirmid-portion, means passingjreely through said thimbles and piercing said bars and serving to unite the latter in permanent relationship, a pivot bolt at each end of said strut passing through'registering eyes in the bar ends, and bearing bushings snugly fitting said ing the bars apart at their ends.

4. A strut comprising a pair'of bars, having at their opposite ends longitudinal series of eyes, spacing thimbles arranged between said bars at their mid-portion, means passing freely through said thimbles and piercing said bars and serving to unite the latter in permanent relationship, a pivot bolt at each end of said strut passing-through registering eyes in the bar-ends, and bear-'- W FRANK D. WARD. Witnesses i L. H. GAoTE, WILLIAM ABBE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof Patents, Washington, D. G.

bolts and spac- 

